RCL Year A Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21, Psalm 104:25-35 and 37, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, Saint John 20:19-23
Whether you focus on the divided tongues, as of fire, in the Lesson from Acts, or Jesus among the disciples saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” or, if you are like me, focus on both traditions about the Holy Spirit in the Church, you very well may come away from today with the comfort of assurance that the Holy Spirit strengthens the Church and enables the Church to perform its ministry.
You may know that the Holy Spirit is known as The Comforter. That word’s meaning has undergone a lot of change. Comfort originally meant to strengthen.
God the Holy Spirit strengthens us to be the Church. In fact, we have been given all we need to be the Church and to do God’s will. And because of all the things we have been given, we are less a society about knowing the right thing than we are of being and doing the right thing. Essentially our faith is more lived than it is known.
And so, today I challenge you in a specific, concrete incident to rely on the Holy Spirit. You may do it this way. When you reach a point where you do not know what to do, do this. With sincerity say to God, “I do not know what to do. I and this situation are in your hands. Use us to accomplish your will, O Lord.”
If you do that, you are coöperating with God. And if you coöperate with God, all things are possible.
hs3rd 